The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-15

nels of trade, there seems to be reason
for the claim that some legitimate
means should be devised by the
Government to restore in an emer-
gency without waste or extravaganza
such money to its place among the
people.
THE TARIFF.
Our scheme of taxation, by the
means Of which this needless surplus
is taken from the people and put into
the public treasury, consists CT a
tariff or duty levied upon importa-
tions from abroad and internal reve-
rue taxes levied upon the consumma-
tion Of tobacco and spirituous and
malt liquors.
Itmust be conceded that none of
the things subjected to internal rev.
enue taxation are, strictly speaking,
necessaries. There appears to be no
just complaint of this taxation by
the consumers of these articles and
there seems to be nothing so well
able to bear the burden without
hardship to any portion of the peo-
pie.
But our present tariff laws-the
vicious, inequitable and illogical
source Of unnecessary taxation
ought to be at once revised and
amended. These laws have the
primary and plain effect of raising
the price to consumers of all articles
imported aud subject to duty by
precisely the sum paid for such
duties. Thus the amount of the duty
measures the tax paid by those
who purchase for use these imported
articles.
Many Of these things, however, are
raised or manufactured in our own
country, and the duties now levied
upon foreign goods and products are
called protection to these home man
ufacturers, because they render it
possible for those of our people who
are manufacturers to make these
taxed articles and sell them for a
price equal to that demanded for the
imported goods that have paid Gus
toms duty. So it happens that while,
comparatively, a few use the imported
articles, millions of our people who
never use and never saw any Of the
foreign products, purchase and use
things of the same kind made in this
country and pay therefor nearly or
quite the same enhanced price which
the duty adds to the imported ar.
ticles. Those who buy imports pay
the duty charged thereon into the
public treasury, but the grand major
ity of our citizens who buy domestic
articles of the some class pay sum
at least approximately equal to this
duty to the home manufacturer.
This reference to the operation of
Our tariff laws is not made by way of
instructions, but in order that We may
be constantly reminded of the man
ner in which they impose q burden
upon those who consume domestic
products as we'll as those who con.
sumo imported articles, and thus
create tax upon all our people.
: 1t is not proposed to entirely re-
lieve the country Of this taxation. It
must be extensively continued as the
source of the Governments Income,
and in q readjustment Of our tariff
the interest of American labor en-
gagged in manufacture should be
carefully considered, as we'll as the
preservation Of our manufactures. 1t
may be called protection, or by any
other name, but relief from the hard
ships and dangers Of our present
tariff laws should be devised, with
special precaution, imperilling the
existence of our manufacturing inter-
ests. But this existence should not
mean condition which, without
regard to the public welfare or a
national ,exigenoy, must always in
sure the realization Of immense
profits instead of Emoderately profit
able returns.
As the volume and diversity of our
national activities increase new
recruits are adde' TO these who de-
sire q continuation u the advantages
which they conceive the present
system of tariff taxation directly
affords them.
So stubbornly have all efforts to
reform the present condition been
resisted by those of our fellow-citizens
thus engaged that they can hardly
complain of the suspicion entertained
to a certain extent that there exists
IN organized combination all along
the line to maintain their advantage.
PROTECTION NEEDED?
We are in the midst of centennial
celebratinos. and with becoming
pride We Eeioioe in American skill
and ingenuity, in American energy
and enterprise, and in the wonderful
natural advantages and resources
developed by q century's Nationa.
growth. Yet when an attempt is
made to justify scheme which per-
mits tax to be laid upon every con-
summer in the land for the benefit Of
our manufacturers, quite beyond
reasonable demand for governmental
regard, it suits the purposes of adj.
vocacy to call our manufactures in.
fant industries, and ask a greater de-
gree of favor and fortering care than
.oan be wrung from Federal legisla-
ton.